Training system for basketball shooting

ABSTRACT

The system herein disclosed and claimed is a system for training users how to shoot a basketball into a hoop rim by tossing the ball at a height well above the hoop rim so as to have the basketball arc downward with mostly downward more than sideward momentum.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is associated with sports training systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basketball is popular worldwide sport. Training for basketball can begin at a relatively early age. Once a child is strong enough to toss a basketball higher than the hoop, training for shooting can begin. Training for dribbling, ball control and passing can begin even earlier.

High school, college and professional basketball have a basket hoop whose top is 10 feet above the floor. Backboard standard dimensions are 72 inches wide by 42 inches high. Basketball hoop rims are 18 inches in diameter.

In learning to shoot a basketball through the hoop and its net, one must learn to toss the ball above the rim at such an angle that it will be more likely to go through the hoop than to bounce off its rim or bounce off the backboard and overshoot the rim. With the rim 10 feet off the ground (lower, perhaps, for young learners), one can toss the ball, say, 11 feet high and its downward arc will make a small angle with the rim, say, 30 degrees. That ball will have both horizontal and vertical momentum, which increases the likelihood that it will traverse the rim, hit the backboard, and miss going through the hoop. Experience shows that a ball with a higher altitude and steeper angle with respect to the hoop will have more vertical than horizontal momentum. As such, it is more likely to fall straight down and has greater odds of going through the hoop.

Thus, when teaching how to shoot baskets, it is important to get learners to aim substantially higher than the rim height to increase the likelihood of success.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a system that attaches to the sides of the backboard and forms an irregular hexagonal perimeter that is wider than the basketball rim. It is positioned above the hoop rim so that in order to get the ball over its top, one must shoot higher than its rim height. This will automatically ensure that the ball is substantially higher than the hoop rim height.

The system, thus, encourages learners to shoot higher and at a steeper angle. This will result in a higher percentage of successful shots.

The perimeter also has a net, like the basketball hoop, that is wider and longer than the basketball hoop net. Balls that miss the hoop will fall down the larger net surface keeping them within easy reach of the learner. As a result, a learner will be able to take more practice shots per minute because he/she does not have to chase down a ball that missed the hoop.

The idea of a larger rim placed higher than the hoop rim is not novel. However, such systems are typically mounted horizontally with respect to the hoop and have support cables that extend above the larger rim and attach to the top portion of the backboard. Such cables interfere with ball trajectory from the sides of the basket limiting the area in which a learner can throw the ball.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is designed to rest horizontally without need of support wires. Therefore, there is no support cable or support-cable interference. It is also designed to be easily lowered such that the rim rotates downward into essentially a vertical orientation and abuts the supporting vertical stand. When so lowered, it is out of the way of the basket hoop and net allowing learners to first use the invention to practice shooting then lower it to establish an unaided shot scenario.

The invention comprises an irregular hexagonal rim using the backboard as one leg, and having a front rod that is parallel to the backboard and two side rods that are perpendicular to the backboard and two other rods that join the front rod to the side rods. A pivoting and latching subsystem on each side edge of the backboard supports raising and lowering the system while providing a locked horizontal position that requires no support cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary basketball goal comprising vertical support stand, backboard, hoop and net.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary basketball goal stand, backboard, hoop and net using an articulating stand that allows backboard/hoop to be lowered or raised.

FIG. 3 illustrates shooting where the ball has a small angle with the respect to the rim.

FIG. 4 illustrates shooting where a larger rim structure above the basket rim forces a higher shot with a larger angle between ball and basket rim.

FIG. 5 is one embodiment of the system from a top view.

FIG. 6 is one embodiment of the system from a front view.

FIG. 7 is one embodiment of the system from a side view showing a stationary stand (left) and an articulating stand (right).

FIG. 8 is one embodiment of the system from a rear view showing the cables used to raise and lower the system.

FIG. 9 is one embodiment of the system where it is lowered so as to free up the basket rim and net for unaided shooting practice.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the invention in which the net is extended and leads to a ball return structure that guides the ball back to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an accessory system added to a standard basketball goal structure. Its purpose is to help train a learner to toss the basketball higher than the hoop rim so as to increase the downward vector of the ball relative to the horizontal vector. This increases the likelihood of making a basket (e.g. having the ball go through the hoop).

Prior art includes larger rims placed above the hoop rim for essentially the same training purpose. However, such accessories are attached such that the rim is horizontally oriented and supported by a cable from its corners to the backboard. Whereas these cables do provide support, they also create an obstruction above the hoop rim that may interfere with balls being tossed from the sides. As such, unimpeded shooting is limited to the area below and in front of the hoop rim. The invention herein disclosed and claimed uses no support cables and is designed to be lowered, from the ground, so as to allow unaided shooting once practice is concluded. The cables are used only for raising and lowering the accessory rim and its net, whereas support, once it is in its horizontal orientation, is provided by the special clamping subsystem and the materials used for the rim components.

As shown in FIG. 1, a basketball goal consists of a vertical stand (101), backboard (102), hoop rim (103) and hoop net (104).

FIG. 2 illustrates a basketball goal in which the vertical stand (200) is articulated and allows the backboard, hoop, and net to be lowered, as a unit, from its regular height to a lower height. Doing so would allow younger learners who cannot yet toss a ball high enough for a 10-foot-above-ground hoop to learn to shoot with a lowered rim height. The invention herein disclosed and claimed will work with any type of basketball goal structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ball tossed at a height just above hoop rim height (301). The ball in its downward arc makes an angle, 302, with the plane of the rim of about 30 degrees or less. As a result, when it contacts the rim, it has both downward and horizontal vector components, and the horizontal components will tend to move it toward the backboard or outer rim decreasing the likelihood that the ball will drop through the rim and net.

FIG. 4 illustrates a ball tossed at a greater height than in FIG. 3 because it is blocked by an accessory rim (402) from getting to the hoop rim at a lower height. As a result, the ball trajectory is steeper and it makes a larger angle (403) with the hoop rim plane. As a result, the horizontal vector is diminished with respect to the vertical increasing the likelihood that the ball will fall into the hoop rim and net.

The accessory shown in FIG. 4 is the invention. FIG. 5 shows it from a top view (e.g. above the hoop rim and backboard). Using the backboard as one side, the invention has a parallel front rod (501) and two side rods (502) that are perpendicular to the backboard. In addition, two other joining rods (506) join the front rod and side rods. Two special clamping subsystems (505) attach the side rods to the backboard. These subsystems (505) are adaptable to any backboard structure. Special latching pivot fixtures (504) allow the invention's rim structure to pivot downward until essentially vertically oriented or abutting the vertical stand. When raised to a horizontal position, the pivot fixtures will latch providing support for the rim structure in its horizontal orientation position. The pivot fixture and clamping subsystem provide ample support and robustness to eliminate any need for a cable support system such as are found in prior-art systems.

FIG. 6 shows the invention embodiment of FIG. 5 from a front view. The front rod portion parallel to the backboard (501) and joining rods (506) are shown and it is located parallel to and above the plane of the hoop rim by some predetermined displacement. The invention rim also has a net (510) that is larger and longer than the hoop rim net. Balls that fail to go through the hoop rim will traverse the side of net 503 and land near the feet of the shooter.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the invention embodiment for a stationary basketball goal structure (left) and an articulating basketball goal structure (right). A set of cables (701) attached to extensions of the side rods allow a user to raise and lower the invention embodiment from the ground. When the cables are pulled downward, the invention rim rotates upward from an essentially vertical orientation to an essentially horizontal orientation. The latching pivot fixture will then latch the side rods such that the rim is in a fixed horizontal position. A second downward pull on the cables rotates the invention rim slightly above its horizontal orientation and thereby initiates an unlatching of the pivot fixture. Then allowing the cables to move upward enables the invention rim to rotate downward.

FIG. 8 shows the invention embodiment from a rear view. The cables (701) are shown. A cleat device (not shown) can be attached to the vertical stand and used to secure the cables when the invention rim is in its horizontal orientation. That can provide a second level of support.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the invention embodiment showing the invention rim in a lowered (e.g. essentially vertical orientation) position. The left side of the figure shows the invention embodiment attached to a stationary vertical stand basketball goal; the right side of the figure shows the invention embodiment attached to an articulating vertical stand basketball goal. The cables (701), side rod (502) and net (510) are shown in the lowered position.

In FIG. 10, the rim net 510 is extended such that a trough structure 1001 acts as a ball return element. When the ball falls through the hoop rim, or the invention rim net, it lands in the trough structure 1001 which is tilted slightly downward toward the learner. As a result, the ball falls into the trough and rolls to the learner.

The materials used for the invention rim rods could be made out of metal or resin materials that can sustain being hit by a basketball without breaking or bending. Although shown as separate rod, the side rods, joining rods and front rod could be made from a single long rod that is bent so as to conform to the irregular hexagonal shape. The dimensions will depend upon the dimensions of the backboard width. The height above the hoop rim will be determined by the dimensions of the invention rim. These are not critical so long as the invention rim is large enough and high enough to encourage learners to toss the ball well above the hoop rim height. The net material is not critical and would be determined by resistance to elements if used outdoors. The trough structure can be made from cylindrical material cut in half axially, or can be made using guide rods essentially parallel to the ground and raised slightly just below the net to act as guides. The guide rods would be tilted slight downward toward the learner such that the ball would roll back toward the learner after falling between the rods nearest the invention rim net 510. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system to aid teaching basketball shooting technique comprising: an irregular hexagon-shaped frame comprising: two side rods of equal length; one front rod; and two joining rods of equal length; said irregular hexagon-shaped frame is attached to any standard basketball backboard using a mounting subsystem comprising: two clamping subsystems; and two latching pivot fixtures; one end of one said side rod is attached to one end of one said joining rod; one end of second said side rod is attached to one end of second said joining rod; other end of one said joining rod is attached to one end of said front rod; other end of second said joining rod is attached to other end of said front rod; other end of said side rod is attached to first said latching pivot fixture; other end of said second side rod is attached to second said latching pivot fixture; said first latching pivot fixture is attached to said first clamping subsystem; said second latching pivot fixture is attached to second said clamping subsystem; said first clamping subsystem is operative to attach to one side of a basketball goal backboard; said second clamping subsystem is operative to attach to opposite side of said basketball goal backboard; said latching pivot fixtures are-operative to pivot such that said side rods rotate in parallel vertical planes; said latching pivot fixtures are operative to latch said side rods such that they are oriented essentially horizontal when rotated into said essentially horizontal position; a cable set attached to each end of two side rod extensions extending from said mounting subsystem in a direction opposite the position of said front rod; said cable set operative to rotate, by being pulled downwards, said side rods from a vertical orientation with said front rod near the ground to said essentially horizontal position where said side rods and said front rod are essentially in a horizontal plane; said latching pivot fixtures operative to unlatch when rotated a second time after having latched when rotated a first time, such that successive pulling on said cable set will produce successive latching and unlatching operations of said latching pivot fixtures; a net with one end attached to said side rods and said front rod extending downward when said side rods and said front rod are essentially in a horizontal plane.
 2. A claim as in claim 1 further comprising: A ball return subsystem with one end directly below said net and an opposite end located near a user.
 3. (canceled) 